New envoy to Syria arrives in Damascus

BEIRUT (AP) -- A spokesman says the new international envoy to Syria has arrived in Damascus.

Lakhdar Brahimi is making his first trip to the country since taking up his post as the U.N.-Arab League envoy. He replaces Kofi Annan, who left the job in frustration in August after his efforts failed to stem the country's civil war.

According to a statement by Ahmad Fawzi, Brahimi's spokesman, the envoy arrived in Syria on Thursday and will hold talks with the government and members of the Syrian opposition.

Syria's crisis started in March 2011. Activists estimate some 23,000 people have been killed in a conflict that has morphed into a civil war.

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